Major home remodeling isn’t for the faint of heart; there is huge potential for design problems, cost overruns, or just unsatisfactory workmanship. Here, a professional construction manager who masterminded the redesign at New York’s famed Avery Fisher Hall as well as a massive institute-wide renovation of St. Luke’s Hospital, offers an indispensable guide for homeowners who need to manage a large-scale renovation. There’s advice on how to articulate your thoughts clearly to designers, architects, and contractors; tips on negotiating contracts; suggestions for protecting yourself from legal and financial threats; and help understanding warranty claims. Each step--from initial planning through the completed project--is covered in layman’s terms, and sample contracts, floor plans, cost estimating worksheets and other forms are provided.

· Ultimate DIY resource shows readers everything they need to know about plumbing and electrical repairs, heating and cooling, roofing and siding, remodeling, and so much more · Offers plenty of direct DIY wisdom on how to make the most of a home · Includes more than 2,300 how-to photos and 800 drawings · New edition of this best-selling home improvement manual includes recent code updates and changes, plus information on USB outlets, AFCI/GFCI breakers, and tankless water heaters

A must-have guide for bargain-hunting fashionistas looking to make a statement without sabotaging their budgets. With this easy-to-use resource, savvy shoppers can cultivate upscale, upcycled wardrobes at thrift and consignment store prices. Shoppers will learn to navigate the racks of their local consignment shop, spot name brands like Versace, Dior, and Burberry, select the best quality items, and repair secondhand clothes that need some love. Photo-filled chapters on thrifted handbags, jewelry, scarves, and other accessories show what's available and give tips for distinguishing quality items from fakes. Interviews with expert tailors, dry cleaners, shoe repair wizards, and fabric-dyeing professionals explain what makes a damaged piece of clothing worth renovating. Before-and-after photos show what can be done to refashion less-than-perfect finds.

This New York Times bestselling book is filled with hundreds of fun, deceptively simple, budget-friendly ideas for sprucing up your home. With two home renovations under their (tool) belts and millions of hits per month on their blog YoungHouseLove.com, Sherry and John Petersik are home-improvement enthusiasts primed to pass on a slew of projects, tricks, and techniques to do-it-yourselfers of all levels. Packed with 243 tips and ideas—both classic and unexpected—and more than 400 photographs and illustrations, this is a book that readers will return to again and again for the creative projects and easy-to-follow instructions in the relatable voice the Petersiks are known for. Learn to trick out a thrift-store mirror, spice up plain old roller shades, "hack" your Ikea table to create three distinct looks, and so much more.

Did you read about the janitor who donated $1 million dollars to his local library? Do you ever watch in amazement as your well-off boss haggles over the price of a tuna fish sandwich? Is it possible to find an advisor to help you invest your money—without losing it all to a Bernie Madoff-like con man? In the same spirit of Reader’s Digest magazine’s popular 13 Things They Won’t Tell You series, the editors at America’s Most Trusted Magazine have developed the ultimate roadmap for making the most of your money and avoiding the wallet-sucking scams that are keeping you off Easy Street. We talked to everyday and not-so-everyday rich folks, and to the experts who helped make them rich, to learn their secrets on what to save for, how much to save—and where to stash cash so that it grows (hint: not that bank savings account). We also got their tips for developing “rich guy vision”: The uncanny ability to make financial goals and reach them in five, ten even 20 years—while smartly navigating economic pitfalls and surprises. You’ll learn what services you should be getting for free, how to ask the right questions to get behind-the-scenes deals, and how to “live rich” even on an everyday budget. You’ll stop wasting money, blowing your budget (or flying blind without one), and getting scammed. This book will enlighten you, horrify you, and give you a whole new perspective on when to spend and when to stash it deep in your pockets. Inside you’ll discover countless eye-opening strategies for: Saving and investing. The savvy tricks you need to know to grow your money wisely—from branching out beyond your 401K to getting tax breaks you didn’t know you deserved. Plus: what the IRS, stockbrokers, and bankers won’t tell you. House and home. All the tips your rich neighbors might not want you to know, including: smart versus stupid renovations; smart ways to increase your home’s value; advice on first and second mortgages; buying and selling your home. Plus, what your mortgage lender and real estate agent won’t tell you. The Household Budget: How to build a budget that lets you “live rich” while saving. Topics include smart vs. stupid splurges; online budget tools and calculators; tips for saving on utilities, gasoline, groceries and car repairs. College planning. Some of the most famous rich people in the country (Mark Zuckerberg, anyone?) are also famous for dropping out of college. You’ll get out-of-the-box thinking about the value of private versus public universities; 529 plans; loans, scholarships, and financial aid; advice from college admissions officers. Of course, millionaires also tell us how they made money by following their hearts and doing what they love—and you can approach your kids’ education with that in mind. Plus: what your scholarship and test-prep services, financial planner, and student-loan company won’t tell you. Retirement. How the rich really want to spend their golden years, and the clever ways they seed the ground now to ensure their retirement dreams bloom and flourish later. Plus what your 401(k) manager, pension plan, and financial planner won’t tell you. Along the way, you’ll discover top savings strategies for clipping coupons and hunting down bargains, how to pass Go and collect the big salaries, and the biggest mistakes that cost the rich their fortunes. With this handy companion, you’ll have all the savvy, patience, and smarts you’ll ever need to get ahead—and stay there.

Save 30% on home construction! Whether you want to take on all the responsibility of contracting your home or simply want to intelligently communicate with your homebuilder, The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home can help you save 30% or more on the cost of home construction by teaching you the ins and outs of managing your construction project. Learn how to get your project off to a solid start. Get financial and legal details in language you can understand. Learn what to consider when selecting a lot and how to deal with suppliers, labor and subcontractors. Gain understanding of building codes and inspections so you can manage with authority, confidence, and efficiency. This extensive guide walks you through each phase of construction including preconstruction, foundations, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, masonry, siding, insulation, drywall, trim, painting, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, tile and landscaping. Completely revised and updated, this edition includes a new section on sustainable building as well as the most comprehensive building resources section ever compiled. You'll find schedules, order forms, control logs, contracts and checklists to help keep your project on track.

Aims to offer easy-to-understand financial advice to make the most of your money at all stages of life. Charts, tables, case history and personalized questions and answers are included, and chapters cover topics including: budgets and record keeping; checking accounts and time deposits; investment strategies and vehicles; financing a house; car insurance; and retirement planning.